Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley Artist Series 2015

94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "[$59 list] A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Merlot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series reveals a deeper ruby/purple color as well as loads of black fruits, tobacco leaf, cured meats, and bouquet garni notes. It's rich, medium to full-bodied, has background oak, and terrific overall balance. Give bottles 3-4 years and it will keep for 15-20+ years. (4/11/19)"

93 points James Suckling: "Impressive dark berries, cast in attractively earthy, fresh forest-floor notes, leading to a palate that has a very plush and dense, mid-palate play of fine tannin and ripe dark berries. Long finish. A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 8% Cabernet franc and 4% Merlot. Drink or hold. (7/5/19)"

92 points Wine Spectator: "[$59 list] Polished and elegantly structured, with expressive cherry, tobacco and clove flavors that take on richness toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2026. 1,971 cases made. (5/31/19)"

92 points Decanter: "Rick Small is a Walla Walla pioneer, launching Woodward Canyon in 1981. This vintage of the Artist Series is the current (24th) release, using 78% Cabernet sourced from the winery vineyard, Champoux in Horse Heaven Hills and Sagemoor in Columbia Valley. Glossy, plush cassis, liquorice, milk chocolate plus lots of firm cedary oak from 22 months in barrel, 50% new. Cellar this, as Cabernets from the 1980s and '90s are now drinking beautifully. Drink: 2020-2030. Alcohol 14.9%. (Jan 2020)"

91+ points Stephen Tanzer (Vinous): "($59 list; mostly made from Champoux and the estate vineyard; aged in 50% new oak): Saturated ruby. Sexy nose combines cassis, crushed-stone minerality, tobacco leaf, dark chocolate and menthol. Alluringly sweet, plush flavors of cassis, plum, dark raspberry, spices, licorice, dark chocolate and glossy oak are complicated by slightly medicinal notes of kirsch, menthol and herbs. Offers noteworthy density and depth and finishes with rather powerful broad, dusty tannins. Winemaker Mott kept this in barrel for 28 months, compared to a normal 22. There's plenty of mid-palate energy and thickness here, but I find all these wines quite oaky and a bit herbal. Mott told me he generally likes them best five to seven years after the vintage, but this rather chunky wine will more like seven to ten years to assume its adult shape. Drink: 2022-2028. (Nov 2018)"

91 points and 'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "[$59 list] This wine is a blend of fruit from Woodward Canyon Estate, Champoux, Sagemoor and Spring Creek vineyards. Despite seeing just 50% new oak, aromas of baking spice and vanilla are at the fore at present, in front of notes of herb and cherry. The palate brings a suave feel, with a lovely sense of texture, dipping in the middle before coming back together. The oak influence is intense right now. Give it time to settle in. Best after 2023. Alcohol 14.9%. (Mar 2019)"